Flanagan, Raymond Norbert 1919 - 2010

FLANAGAN, WARDLE, DOSE

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/27/2011 at 17:23:28

Marcus, Iowa – Raymond N. Flanagan, 90, a life-long resident of Marcus, Iowa, passed away early Monday morning, November 29, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2010, at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, with the Rev. Armand Bertrand officiating. Interment will be in the Holy Name Parish Cemetery, Marcus, Iowa. Military respects will be provided by the F.I. Goodburn Post 517 of Marcus. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, at the Earnest-Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will be present from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. The visitation will resume on Thursday at the Holy Name Catholic Church, one hour prior to Ray’s funeral Mass.

Raymond Norbert Flanagan, the youngest child of James Joseph and Anna Jane (Wardle) Flanagan, was born on December 27, 1919, rural Marcus. Ray attended Holy Name School in Marcus, after which, he worked on the family farm and also as a hired man for other area farmers. Ray was inducted into the United States Army in May 1942, and served his country during WWII. He was a member of Company M of the 338th Infantry Regiment, 85th Infantry Division, United States 5th Army in Italy. Staff Sergeant Flanagan, as leader of a heavy mortar crew, saw front-line active combat in the Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley campaigns from April 1944, until the end of the European War in 1945. He was awarded the bronze star medal. Raymond was formally and honorably discharged from his military duties in October 1945, and returned to Marcus. On February 5, 1951, Ray was united in marriage to Elaine Marie Dose, at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus. They became the parents of four children.

Ray took over the responsibilities of the family farm following the death of his father in 1952. He continued to farm until 1974, when he and Elaine moved to town. In addition to farming, Ray was employed by Farmers Co-op in Marcus from 1970 to 1982. He also worked for the Marcus Golf Club from 1982 until retiring in 1993. He was a devoted, life-long member of the Holy Name Catholic Church. Ray will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, and a great neighbor and friend. He took quiet pride in his military service, great satisfaction in his perfectly straight farm field rows, and the golf course greens that he manicured to precision were noticed and admired by all.

Ray will be sadly and dearly missed by his three children and their spouses, Teresa (Tom) L’Angelle of Flagstaff, AZ, Kevin (Connie) Flanagan of Tulsa, OK, and Gary (Debbie) Flanagan of Omaha, NE; his four grandsons, Jonathan and Jared Flanagan of Omaha, NE, and James and Evan Flanagan of Tulsa, OK; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Preceding Ray in death are his wife, Elaine in October of 1996; his daughter, Lynn in May of 2010; his parents, James and Anna Flanagan; his two sisters, Grayce Collins and Mary Brady; and his four brothers, Joseph (in infancy), Earl, Paul, and the Rev. Lawrence Flanagan.

Mauer Johnson Earnest Funeral Home